After the ghost-hunting master descended the mountain, his fame spread throughout the capital.

As the last word fell, Xie Jinchen suddenly opened his eyes and gently pushed the suspended blood-red array patterns toward Jiang Dusheng.

The moment the array patterns touched Jiang Dusheng's body, they transformed into countless tiny points of light, disappearing into her brow and lower abdomen.

Jiang Dusheng trembled all over, feeling the excruciating pain that had almost torn her apart suddenly disappear.

Instead, there is a much gentler feeling of sinking.

She froze, subconsciously touched her stomach, and then looked up at Xie Jinchen.

The moment Xie Jinchen's pain subsided, his face turned deathly pale, beads of cold sweat instantly appeared on his forehead, and his tall body swayed almost imperceptibly.

He groaned and pressed his hand tightly against his abdomen, which felt as if it were being torn apart by an invisible force.

Xie Jinchen gritted his teeth and moved step by step to the edge of the bed, but still managed to force a smile at Jiang Dusheng, his voice trembling as he suppressed the pain:

"So this is how painful it is. Childbirth, you've suffered so much. It's all thanks to Second Master's skill..."

Jiang Dusheng looked at his temples, which were soaked with cold sweat, yet he still forced a smile at her. Her heart felt like it was being squeezed tightly, a mix of sourness and pain.

Her eyes welled up, and a tear rolled down her cheek without warning.

Seeing her tears, Xie Jinchen raised his uninjured hand and clumsily wiped them away with his fingertips, chuckling softly.

"Although this is the first time you've cried for me, I still have to spoil the mood by saying, 'Don't just get emotional, put in some effort, the baby's waiting to come out...'"

The pain of childbirth is immense; if it is transferred to someone else, that person will suffer double or even more.

Xie Jinchen felt like he was about to be overwhelmed by the accumulated pain, his consciousness was becoming blurred, and he was only able to hold on by sheer willpower.

Jiang Dusheng was both amused and exasperated by his words. The bittersweet feeling she had felt was instantly diluted. She glared at him, but she also understood that this was a critical moment.

The midwife was so shocked by this incomprehensible scene that she froze in her tracks.

It wasn't until Xie Jinchen's sharp gaze swept over her that she suddenly jolted, forcibly suppressing the scream that was about to burst from her throat.

She pinched her thigh hard, her voice trembling as she shouted even louder:

"Madam! Quickly, follow my rhythm, inhale! Push!"

With Xie Jinchen sharing the pain, Jiang Dusheng was finally able to concentrate all his energy on cooperating with the nanny.

She gripped Xie Jinchen's hand tightly, took a deep breath, and, following the nanny's instructions, channeled all her strength downwards.

Xie Jinchen held her hand tightly, enduring double the tearing pain, cold sweat pouring down his face, but he never let go of her hand, his gaze fixed on her face.

Outside, Wang Dazhuang was so anxious he was almost crumpling the paper at the edges: "Why is there no sound? I just heard the master cry out in pain! Could it be..."

"Shut up!" Master Xuanji interrupted him impatiently. "That Xie family brat used the Symbiotic Curse to take the pain for Dusheng. Now is a crucial moment inside, so wait quietly!"

Huiqing held the Buddhist prayer beads and softly recited the scriptures for blessings.

Huiming focused intently on sensing the fluctuations in energy within the barrier to ensure everything was foolproof.

Time passed slowly, feeling exceptionally long for the three people outside.

finally--

"Wow!"

A loud cry from a newborn baby, like a ray of dawn, suddenly pierced the solemnity and anxiety inside and outside the delivery room.

Immediately following was the joyful announcement from the midwife: "Congratulations, Your Excellency! Congratulations, Madam! It's a healthy baby boy! Mother and child are safe and sound!"

Outside, Wang Dazhuang let out a loud shout, and the paper-thin body happily spun around:

"It's a boy! It's a boy! Master, you're safe! That's wonderful!"

Huiming and Huiqing both breathed a sigh of relief, their faces showing satisfaction.

Master Xuanji stroked his beard, a smile appearing in his eyes.

Inside the room, Jiang Dusheng collapsed as if all his strength had left him, his eyelids half-closed, almost falling into a deep sleep.

Xie Jinchen, after enduring the immense pain transferred by the curse, was also close to exhaustion, but he stubbornly refused to collapse.

He loosened his grip on Jiang Dusheng's hand and looked at the tiny life that had been carefully cleaned by the nanny and then wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed beside Jiang Dusheng's pillow.

Xie Jinchen steadied his still slightly trembling voice and said to the nanny:

"Granny, you've worked hard. Please take the child outside and let the three elders know that he is safe. Madam is exhausted and needs to rest quietly for a while."

"Yes, Your Highness!" The midwife, experienced as she was, immediately picked up the swaddled baby carefully and quietly opened the door.

After everyone left, Xie Jinchen leaned down and placed a kiss on Jiang Dusheng's forehead, his voice gentle, "You've worked hard."

Outside, the three people and two ghosts, who had been waiting anxiously, immediately surrounded them.

Huiqing was the quickest; she flashed to the old woman's side and extended her hand with a smile:

"Amitabha! Please let this old monk see my grand-nephew!"

Before the nanny could react, he had already carefully taken the swaddling clothes, his movements surprisingly gentle.

Master Xuanji was a step too slow, puffing out his beard and glaring: "You stinking monk, how come you're even more cunning than your senior brother?! This is my grand-disciple! Let me see him!"

Huiming stood aside with a smile, looking at the child with kind eyes, without vying for the child.

Huiqing hugged the soft little bundle, her face crinkling with laughter, completely ignoring Xuanji Zhenren's protests.

He magically produced a string of sandalwood prayer beads from his sleeve, with faint shimmering light emanating from the beads.

He muttered incantations as he gently slipped the Buddhist prayer beads onto the child's wrist.

Strangely enough, the prayer beads, which were originally too large for the baby, automatically shrank and adjusted to the right size the moment they touched the skin, and stayed on securely.

"Little one, this old monk has a little trinket for you." Huiqing lowered his head and said in a voice gentler than ever before:

"This bead has been with me for many years and has been imbued with Buddhist teachings. It can ward off evil spirits, calm the mind, and protect you from illness and disaster, ensuring peace and good health."

May you gain wisdom and clarity of mind, and no matter what you encounter in the future, may you always maintain a heart of loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity, and attain great freedom in the world.

These blessings, spoken by him, were less of his usual frivolousness and more of the demeanor of a true high monk.

Seeing this, Master Xuanji was not to be outdone, and quickly took out a talisman folded into a triangle shape from his robes and stuffed it into the lining of the child's blanket:

"My dear grand-disciple, your grandmaster also has a gift for you. This is the Taiyi Golden Light Amulet. Don't underestimate its small size; it can ward off three fatal calamities. May you have good health, a clear mind, be free from all taboos, and grow strong and healthy!"